Herald News: Paterson firefighters lend a hand

DURING his now famous visit, along with Governor Christie, to the Jersey Shore days after superstorm Sandy struck the coastline and came inland to wreak more havoc, President Obama took time to address first responders who rushed to the aid of those suffering the worst effects of the storm.

"You've helped to save a lot of lives and a lot of property," Obama said. "And one of the things that you learn in these tragedies is, the first responders — keep in mind their homes usually are underwater, too, or their families have been affected in some way, and yet they make those personal sacrifices to help other people. So we really appreciate them."

That appreciation continues, weeks after the storm, as the cleanup and restoration enter into a phase that sometimes eludes the radar of the current news cycle. Still, the tales of heroism and sacrifice, and generally, people just looking for ways to help one another, are still out there.

One shining example was brought to light earlier this week in a Page One story by Staff Writer Karen Sudol, in which she chronicled the amazing story of how Paterson firefighters had been volunteering their efforts in the storm-ravaged town of Keansburg on the Raritan Bay.

Originally, the Paterson crew's efforts were concentrated on helping fellow firefighters and other first responders in Keansburg, where, according to the town's former fire chief, about two-thirds of the homes sustained water damage. That work soon expanded to helping other residents in town.

The Paterson firefighters' storm-related labors continued a trend of North Jersey first responders helping to clean up and resurrect the hardest-hit parts of the Shore. Earlier this month, a convoy of firetrucks carrying 28 firefighters from seven Pascack Valley towns poured in to help the storm-hit town of Toms River.

"It brings a tear to my eye," said John Soranno, a Keansburg patrolman, after seeing the repair work being done to his grandmother's flooded home. "It's just great to see there are still people out there willing to help and give back to a community they don't even know." Soranno said his grandmother does not have much money and is relying on flood insurance to cover the damage left by floodwaters.

Certainly, Paterson Battalion Chief John Bradle, who helped to organize the relief parties, and other first responders who volunteered on their days off to work in Keansburg are well worth commending.

Paterson, a city that faces its own share of challenges, including poverty and street crime, can also be prone to heavy flooding. Wouldn't it be great if the next time Paterson were hit with a staggering hardship that the same sort of "helping hands" approach the city's firefighters have shown in the Shore relief effort could somehow be reciprocated by other communities?